Two Laughs

Abraham was one-hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” Genesis 21:5-6 (NAS)

The face of a newborn is the sweetest culmination of expectations. It brings a smile to the face and laughter to the heart. Abraham and Sarah were no different in their joy. What was different was how long it took to have a child. They were past the time of possibility; even past the time of hoping. Yet, Sarah held this child and was filled with happiness. His name was Isaac, which means ‘laughter.’

This was not the first time Sarah laughed. When she overheard, a year earlier, that she would have a child she laughed: not the laugh of happiness but the bitter laugh of doubt. Perhaps her laugh was wrong, but it was honest. When she was young she had heard the prophecy. She waited and waited. She hoped and she prayed. Then she stopped. Her time had passed.

Sarah’s story speaks to us. We too can laugh in two ways. Circumstances make expectation wane in our hearts. The lapse of time darkens our hope. Perhaps, the impossibility of a task overshadows our faith, and we laugh with doubt. We know it’s wrong, but it’s honest.

Here's hope: it’s the last laugh that counts. Sarah’s first laugh did not stop God. Circumstances, the lapse of time and impossibilities simply made the second laugh richer. I don’t advocate losing faith, but you are not the first to feel discouraged. Think of God’s faithfulness and Sarah’s second laugh and faith and hope will return.

Father, thank you for being faithful when our faith wanes. Forgive our laughs of doubt and grow us to the sweet laughter of faith renewed.

© 2009 jshoaff